Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126052
(Above) Karsmakers (6) and Croft (20) display Honda horses while Steve Stackable sits down on the job. (Below) Roger and Tony looked down a lot while Wolsink (3) wailed. least practiced dentist and most experienced motocross racer, Gerrit Wolsink. Dr. Wolsink finished fourth three years ago, first two years ago, and first last year. In 1976 Herr Doktor Wolsink disected the Carlsbad GP course with the fine precision of root can al work. It wasn 't even a race as "Woo fie " piled on huge leads in both motos that left everyone, except the ABC Television heliocopter, in his wake. Where were the American challengers to the throne? Jimmy Weinert was smiling, combing his hair, and playing Howard Cosell for Wide World of Sports. Tony D. was nursing a sore shoulder from a crash the week before and not up to 100%. And for the ironic clincher to American hopes, Husky ordered Kent Howerton, who had won the first two 500 Nationals in a row and was leading the Championship point standings, to ride the support class. It was a black day at Carlsbad for the big guns, but surprises were forthcoming. Mosiers moment By Jody Weisel he United States Gran Prix of Motocross is more than just another race day in the sun. To the riders, Gran Prix is the whole ball of wax. To the 30,000 spectators it is a gathering of the tribes from far and wide. To the sponsors it is big bucks. The USGP is Woodstock on wheels, the Carnival in Rio with wilder costumes and more festivities, and a matter of National T 6 pride. The ballyhoo that surrounds the four year old USGP stems from the fact that an American has never won the event, even with the hornecourt advantage. Many thought this was the year as Jimmy Weinert, Tony DiStefano and Kent Howerton had shown that they had the speed throughout the American National Championships. Did they have the strength? In a series of twists of fate the ethnocentric issue of who's tops now was never answered to anyone 's satisfaction. Largely because of the efforts of the world's Roger DeCoster has spent some sleepless nights as his wife Laurie is ten days overdue with their first child, but was casual and calm. He should be with eight GP moto wins already under his belt the R.D. knows he has it won. Archrival Pierre Karsmakers was pegged by the picket fence prophets to be the only man capable of going after Roger, but when the gate dropped "Pepe's" ignition popped and Gerritt Wolsink quickly unshuffled the early American hopefuls to take the lead. DeCoster moved into second with Great Britain's blond youngster Graham Noyce pushing the champ. Adolf Weil was fourth, but quickly fouled a plug and stopped to switch the lead to his spare. The ancient one lost 20 places playing' hotcakes with the porcelain. Gaylon Mosier, who had gone out in time trials with a rubber nose and blond wig under his helmet, quickly moved past the old Maciomeister and started trying to reel in the young English Maico rider. for Gaylon it was a shot at taking his American tuned Maico past the factory tuned bike with Herr Maisch sitting in the bleachers. Gaylon couldn't catch Graham but the hot pursuit carried him far afield of his competitors in the rear. Suddenly on the third lap DeCoster slowed at the mechanics area and quickly ducked through the opening into the pits. His first moto ride had ended with a broken footpeg. With the "Man" gone from his fender Wolsink turned the heat up and put 45 seconds between himself and Noyce. It was over before it started. Wolsink strongly drove deep into each comer and powered out.